precious little is "universal" human culture

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Henna Page Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on October 2, 2001 at 20:16:29:

In reply to: Re: probable origins of "tribal" posted by jolynn on October 2, 2001 at 06:05:21:

: created 'tribal'. They studied many Anthro texts and found the
: 'universal' symbols and these become the tribal designs.

Ah. They took "intro to Anthro" and played fast and loose with the
material?
They could have bothered to attend next semester of Anthro, and
studied the work of Franz Boaz, (granddaddy of American anthropology)
who stated that there is precious little "universal" in human culture.

There are a very few universal symbols in culture, but not what turn
up in tribal tattoos. The attraction to an "eye" is probably universal
from infancy, as the children who bonded to trees and rocks rather
than mommies (who have eyes) tended to not live long (maladaptive
behaviour to NOT bond to mommy). Symmetry is calming. Horizontals are
calming. These again are possiby inborn responses to the environment
( a symmetrical face and body is apt to be healthy and a good breeding
prospect, symmetrical plants and fruits are more apt to be healthy and
good food; even horizons don't hide predators, horizontal people pose
no threat). Fangs and pointy things are nearly universally scarry, as
are grimaces. Being fond of fangs and thorny, pointy things is, for an
infant, maladaptive. Toddling up to a snarling person expecting a
cuddle is a maladaptive behaviour. Pubic symbols are pretty universal;
eveybody has a pubis of some or other sort, is generally fond of it,
and takes a fancy to pubi of others. (positive adaptive behaviour if
you expect to breed successfully). It's arguable that "tree" is a
universal symbol of something good. Trees have edible stuff, and have
fuel and shelter. Water, sun, moon and stars, are also probably
universal symbols ... though not all cultures agree on their meaning.

Carl Jung felt there were some universal symbols, but his group tends
to fall apart once you get past Indo-European culture.

I think there are a few very broad groups of symbols whose origins
predate 10,000 BCE .... a group from the trans-Siberian group which
spread into the Americas, a group from the Pacific Basin, an
Indo-European, group, an Asian group, and an African group. These
populations were isolated long enough, and in different enough
environments that they developed a different visual vocabulary. These
basics have diversified and dispersed since the last Ice Age because
people migrate all the heck over ... and their trade goods go even
farther than the people themselves. (ie the similarity of Islamic
metalcraft knotwork, and Irish manuscript knotwork, probably having
common origin) Then, some groups become isolated and evolve
independantly ... ie the very complex system of Shipibo visual
iconography doesn't have anything I recognize as having anything in
common with any other.

I really should quit now or I'll be here for hours.....

Follow Ups

You make me miss graduate school jolynn 05:28:20 10/4/2001 (2)
- grad school's a trip! Catherine Cartwright Jones 16:51:36 10/4/2001 (1)
  - thank you! jolynn 20:21:10 10/4/2001 (0)

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: : created 'tribal'. They studied many Anthro texts and found the : : 'universal' symbols and these become the tribal designs. : : Ah. They took "intro to Anthro" and played fast and loose with the : material? : They could have bothered to attend next semester of Anthro, and : studied the work of Franz Boaz, (granddaddy of American anthropology) : who stated that there is precious little "universal" in human culture. : : There are a very few universal symbols in culture, but not what turn : up in tribal tattoos. The attraction to an "eye" is probably universal : from infancy, as the children who bonded to trees and rocks rather : than mommies (who have eyes) tended to not live long (maladaptive : behaviour to NOT bond to mommy). Symmetry is calming. Horizontals are : calming. These again are possiby inborn responses to the environment : ( a symmetrical face and body is apt to be healthy and a good breeding : prospect, symmetrical plants and fruits are more apt to be healthy and : good food; even horizons don't hide predators, horizontal people pose : no threat). Fangs and pointy things are nearly universally scarry, as : are grimaces. Being fond of fangs and thorny, pointy things is, for an : infant, maladaptive. Toddling up to a snarling person expecting a : cuddle is a maladaptive behaviour. Pubic symbols are pretty universal; : eveybody has a pubis of some or other sort, is generally fond of it, : and takes a fancy to pubi of others. (positive adaptive behaviour if : you expect to breed successfully). It's arguable that "tree" is a : universal symbol of something good. Trees have edible stuff, and have : fuel and shelter. Water, sun, moon and stars, are also probably : universal symbols ... though not all cultures agree on their meaning. : : Carl Jung felt there were some universal symbols, but his group tends : to fall apart once you get past Indo-European culture. : : I think there are a few very broad groups of symbols whose origins : predate 10,000 BCE .... a group from the trans-Siberian group which : spread into the Americas, a group from the Pacific Basin, an : Indo-European, group, an Asian group, and an African group. These : populations were isolated long enough, and in different enough : environments that they developed a different visual vocabulary. These : basics have diversified and dispersed since the last Ice Age because : people migrate all the heck over ... and their trade goods go even : farther than the people themselves. (ie the similarity of Islamic : metalcraft knotwork, and Irish manuscript knotwork, probably having : common origin) Then, some groups become isolated and evolve : independantly ... ie the very complex system of Shipibo visual : iconography doesn't have anything I recognize as having anything in : common with any other. : : I really should quit now or I'll be here for hours.....
Optional link URL:
Link title:
Optional image URL: